Phase 1: Exploring the concept
Often I will have an idea of something I would like to explore as a subject to paint. My first step is to scan through thousands of my reference photos looking for that aha moment. Should that moment of inspiration escape me, I make a plan for how to get there, thumbnail sketches, wishful thinking, researching etc. Most often this will include a photography road trip or several. Quite often it will include my favourite – a Plein Air painting session.
I typically work in series so I’m pretty specific with what I am looking for and what I think I want to achieve (mostly). Often I will combine photos or take a bit from this one and a bit from another. There are no rules here. You just have to develop a pleasing composition – that will be flushed out more in the next phase. Material that I work so hard to gather will often provide the foundation for several paintings.
The “why” I wrote this post
I recently had an aha moment at an art show. There were two paintings on display illustrating a bird in flight. Different birds. Different work. Different styles. Different prices. One of the paintings happened to be mine.
Then I had this weird feeling come over me. I wondered if people knew the amount of effort, time and attention that goes into each and every one of my paintings. I thought you may be interested in the process of how my paintings are developed.
People often think that an artist looks at a photo and replicates it…but that is NOT what I do
There is so much more to it than that. You see, I am a purist. I only work from my own reference materials (except commissions but that is another story). I then realized just how much of me is invested in each and every painting that I create. Countless hours are spent in the field exploring – swatting flies, getting sunburnt and exposed to the elements – and loving every moment mind you. Every painting that I create reflects a bit of me. Much time is invested from conception, through multiple photo sessions, photo editing, composition planning and thumbnail sketches, contemplating and onto execution. You get the idea…
My work is an investment for me and it really is from my soul. I thought this information is important to share with you as exploring and developing the concept is so important in this first phase.
Lesson Learned – Painting from other people’s photos
An important lesson that I learned very early in my art career was about painting from other people’s photos. I worked painstakingly on a painting of a highly recognizable local building. I copied every detail as best I could possibly from that particular reference photo. And I did a really good job. I framed the painting and proudly put it on display. Then it happened. At the opening of the show the photographer was there. Now he was a tall man with a big voice and he proudly told everyone there “see the painting Helen did – I took that photo, she painted that from my photo”. Now I had his permission of course but in that instant I felt a level of embarrassment like I lost all credibility and I promised myself it would never happen again.
My Heron in Flight painting is a good example of this as I spent countless hours in a marsh in the heat trying to get the right reference photos. I traveled to that marsh a few times and then to another closer by several more times, patiently waiting to capture heron in flight photos. Ok, for those who really know me – impatiently waited – but I persevered and eventually got the photos!